The JC Lit Reviews RETROSPECTIVE Special: Han Solo Trilogy I: THE PARADISE SNARE

It has come to our attention that, sadly, there have not been reviews for all of the books. A few got missed along the way. So this is your chance to review books that never got reviewed along the way so that we can update our rankings in our all-time count and have these threads for reference in the Index, etc.

This round it's The Paradise Snare, book 1 of the Han Solo Trilogy, which gave us some of our earliest dark times-era information and a look into Han Solo's backstory. We'll follow up at one week intervals with the further books in the trilogy.

Please review the book and provide a rating from 1 to 10.

Previous review threads in the retrospective series:
The Approaching Storm, by Alan Dean Foster

Some previous review threads in the main review series:
Republic Commando: Hard Contact, by Karen Traviss
Shatterpoint, by Matthew Stover
The Cestus Deception, by Steven Barnes
Medstar I: Battle Surgeons, by Michael Reaves and Steve Perry
Medstar II: Jedi Healer, by Michael Reaves and Steve Perry
Jedi Trial, by David Sherman and Dan Cragg
Yoda: Dark Rendezvous, by Sean Stewart
Labyrinth of Evil, by James Luceno
Revenge of the Sith, by Matthew Stover
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader by James Luceno
Galaxies: The Ruins of Dantooine, by Veronica Whitney-Robinson
Tatooine Ghost, by Troy Denning
Survivor's Quest, by Timothy Zahn
Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream, by Aaron Allston
Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand, by Aaron Allston
Traitor, by Matthew Stover
Destiny's Way, by Walter Jon Williams
Force Heretic I: Remnant, by Sean Williams and Shane Dix
Force Heretic II: Refugee, by Sean Williams and Shane Dix
Force Heretic III: Reunion, by Sean Williams and Shane Dix
The Final Prophecy, by Greg Keyes
The Unifying Force, by James Luceno
Dark Nest I: The Joiner King, by Troy Denning
Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen, by Troy Denning
Dark Nest III: The Swarm War, by Troy Denning
Outbound Flight, by Timothy Zahn
[link=http://boards.theforce.net/literature/b1

 

A very interesting book. Han certainly didn't lead an easy life... It starts with him trying to finally fullfil his dream of becoming a pilot and entering the Imperial Academy. How he gets there is quite convoluted and occasionally interrupted by flashbacks about his past as a Star Wars version of Oliver Twist or rather, the Artful Dodger. Han's development between an out for himself street kid and a 'hero' is well mapped, and no straight road, but a winding path. At first he's quite impressed with the "Paradise Snare" scam going on Ylesia, until he sees the consequences in a more personal manner when he begins to develop feelings for Bria Tharen one of the victims.

Aside from this main plot, there are several cameos by the wider Star Wars EU - that, despite the age of the novel - hold up quite well. I especially was impressed with Bail Organa's appearance and the fact that Aldera looks pretty much exactly like in Revenge of the Sith. Also, Dewlanna believing in the Force meshes nicely with Yoda's proclaimed "good relations" to the Wookiees. Also, Han seems to attract furry sidekicks - aside from Dewlanna there's his Togorian Bodyguard/Watchdog. In the end Han finally enrolls at the academy... Of course, that respectability is not going to last^^.

All in all, interesting, but occasionally quite bland and predictable, especially the love story is rather awkward and obviously doomed, also, Bria and her "civilised" problems are strangely out of place in a galaxy of fighting princesses, galant thieves and magic knights.

7/10

 

The Han Solo Trilogy is one of my favorite parts of the Star Wars EU. The Paradise Snare is my favorite book of the trilogy. It shows you what a hard, young early life Han Solo leads. This begins to show you why Han becomes the person he is in the future. From his early life aboard Shrike's ship, shown mostly through flashbacks, until his adventures piloting for the Yselia priests. As well as his love for Bria Tharen, and his hurt for when she leaves him. All these things are a good intro. to the character that is Han Solo. I believe A. C. Crispin does a great job at showing us this. The Paradise Snare is a very fun read.

Overall I give this book an 8.7 out of 10.

 

I love the Han Solo trilogies and especially Crispins awesome work tying lots of EU together. Despite some issues with the recent Clone Wars tv show of Jabba having a son and a few other issues, the books still excell out of the mass of EU works.

The first book, Paradise Snare earns my vote of: 9/10

why not 10/10? because there have been books I like even more

 

I recently found re-found my copies of this trilogy, they're sitting on my "to read" pile. I'll have to wait to review them until after I read them again but I remember them being very enjoyable, a fun look at Han's early life and the seedier side of the galaxy we haven't seen too much of as of late. More seedy, LFL!

 

Definitely one of my favorites - also 9/10 mainly because the later volumes get even better - and that the book was slightly hamstrung by GL lockdown of the Clone Wars at the time. (Still waiting for the Clone Wars ship in the book to show up elsewhere). Crispin is on the short list of former authors I'd love to see come back to Star Wars.

 

I was underwhelmed by this book. Maybe I had unrealistic expectations after hearing so much good stuff about this trilogy. As someone above noted, the romance was completely predictable. There wasn't much of a sense of wonder about any of it, and the book just plods along without anything really sticking out. At no point did I feel compelled to turn the page, but it was competent enough that I didn't give up on it.

5/10.

 

9.5

Its been some time since I read Paradise Snare, but I've always had really great memories about it. Its a awesome book.
Great story learning about Han's early years. I've actually been wanting to re-read it lately, but I've had so many other stuff to read, and more on the way (trying to catch up on the comics) that I haven't had time. All in all, its one of the upper echelon star wars novels IMO.

 

This is still one of my absolute favourite pieces of the EU in any format, especially when taken as a trilogy. I just found it worked so well as an origin story, yet also delving into areas that hadn't been explored in any great detail, at least often. These included things like (non Sith related) cults, the spice trade and underworld dealings that went beyond evil hutt #5 or a smuggler vaguely similar to Han.

I do enjoy the rest of the series a bit more, and the book does slow down a bit in a couple of points, but on the whole an excellent start. In fact this is one of the books that helped me get into the EU properly.

9/10

 

A thoughtful and often glum look at the core reasons Han had...issues. It's not a funny book. With Han Solo I expect a level of humor that kinda wasn't there in this fist novel in the trilogy. It often makes up for the lack of humor with it's compelling plot but it took a few months for me to try the Hutt Gambit after this fairly somber experience.

Crispin was an interesting voice in the EU. Too bad she never tried her hand at anything else.

7.5

 

Paradise Snare is easily a 9/10 for me. Anne Crispin's writing is unique; crisp, descriptive, engaging, and empathetic. The Han Solo Trilogy as a whole is probably a 10/10 for me, and my favorite EU series of all. Hutt Gambit and Rebel Dawn are better, IMO, but only because it seems Crispin seemed to have warmed up and fired on all cylinders in those 2 books. Only other books I enjoyed as much as these are SOTE and Traitor.

 

My opinion on this particular book is going to be biased, being that it was the first adult star was novel I read as a child. This book helped shape how I view the EU as a whole. I love Ann Crispin's writing style, and I hope she someday makes a comeback. I give this book a 9.5/10 because like others said, there have been other books I liked better.

 

92.5/11 = 8.41

 

Excellent point Manisphere, I should have mentioned that about why I didn't enjoy the book as much as most. Opening up a book about Han Solo, I expected to read about the flippant rake that was in the cantina at Mos Eisley. This book is indeed glum.

 

From memory, AC Crispin actually proposed to write a Princess Leia trilogy --- too bad that never eventuated.

 

Aww. That is too bad. I guess LFL didn't want to go too deeply into her past that close to the prequals.

 

9/10

It's been a long time since I read this too, but I remember loving it & this whole trilogy way better than the Brain Daley ones. So I'm putting it in my re-reading list, after I finish Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash I'll do these books again.

 

101.5/12 = 8.46

 

Yes, I believe that was the official reason at the time. Now that the Prequels are over, perhaps LFL / Del Rey / AC Crispin can re-explore that decision?

 

By Far and away my favourite part of the EU, The Paradise Snare captures Han Solo perfectly IMO. It represented a wider more sleazy part of the galaxy and was truly heartbreaking at times. It was also the first time that I truly pictured Corruscant in my head and understood the vastness of it's culture. I also felt that I could fully identify with the character that the author created and genunly willed them to succeed on Ylesia even know I knew in my head it would not happen.

Not only was the Paradise Snare a wonderful introduction to a great character, it also gave us wonderful new characters such as Bria and Muurgh, who seemed to slot into the Leia and chewwie roles so easily for me. The suspense and action truly gripped me from start to finish and this is why I own two copies of this book (one to replace the overread original) and also why it is the first book I return to when I want to immerse myself in the starwars universe.

A must read for me

5*

10/10

 

While it?s been ages since I looked at the novel, I definitely remember how much I loved reading it. I really enjoyed reading about Han?s days as a teen, and the look into the Hutt Cartels. There were times I could feel for Han during his relationship with Bria, especially when she left him. That, and seeing how he tried to make a life for himself despite his surroundings. I also thought that the tie-ins to other SW stories were pretty neat. This fresh look at Han and the time before the original trilogy make The Paradise Snare and the Han Solo trilogy as a whole one of my all-time favorites.

10/10

 

I still think that the moment when Han's life is finally looking up and then Shrike shows up on the rooftop is just one of the greatest EU moments.

And the following fight is probably the EU's single dirtiest knock down drag out hand to hand brawl. That thing is nasty.

Hutt Gambit is when the series gets actively great though; Xizor, Lando, Fett, that final space battle, Vader! Wow! More on that later, I guess.

 

Wouldn't be here without it. 10/10

 

If I made a statement like that, it would surely cause a flood of people to start giving the book a low rating, you know what I mean?